OK, I finally got around to removing my center console so I could swap my heated steering wheel/seat LED's to blue. They were the last ones that needed to be changed. I figured I'd take some pics along the way. My car is an 07, so the 08 should be the same. I would guess the 04-06 would be very similar.

Step 1
Remove the shifter plate assembly.

Once you get to this step, pry up gently on the rear of the shifter plate...closest to the console. Once the rear pops free, gently lift it and the center portion, where the plate bends upward, will pop free. Once the center pops free, you will pull the whole plate TOWARDS you. If you continue to lift upwards, you will snap the plastic tabs on the top edge of the plate.

Now, disconnect the large white plug (HVAC harness), and the shifter light, and move the shifter plate out of the way.

Step 2

Now you can access the two forward screws holding the center console down

Step 3

Now move to the back seat. You need to pull the rear cover of the console straight out, towards the back of the car. The cover holds the rear seat vents. Once I got mine started, it popped out pretty easily.

Step 4

Remove the lower screws on either rear side of the console.

No other screws need to be removed.

Step 5
Lift STRAIGHT UP on the rear of the console...towards to roof of the car.

As you are lifting, you will feel the center of the console pop free. Once it is free, carefully lift it over the E-brake handle. The E-brake needs to be engaged in order to get the console over the handle.

Carefully remove the console assembly from the car.

Step 6
Flip the console over. Place it somewhere where the topside won't get damaged.

Remove these 2 screws.

Gently lift the switch assembly out of the console and unplug it.

Now for those wanting to swap their LED's...continue on...

Step 7

Unsnap each individual switch from the bracket. Be careful, they just snap in. Once each switch is removed from the bracket, you can seperate the switch halves. Once you have them opened, you can swap out the LED's. You will need one 0805, and one PLCC-2 per switch...in the color of your choice. The PLCC-2 is the LED that shines through to show that the switch is on, the 0805 is the LED that backlights the button. (sorry, I didn't get any pics of this as my memory card was full).

This is what the switch looks like once you have it opened up.

Re-installation is obviously the reverse of removal. Here are a few pics of the switches. Can't see the color too well as it is too light outside.

There you have it! Up next...puddle light mirror mod. I have the LED's ready, just need some time!

I find the blue to be very calming :D! I was going to two-tone the switches, and I'm debating swapping the HVAC indicator lights to a different color, but I can't make up my mind between red and white. With my gauge needles being red, I think I would need to go red, but I think the white would look better. If I go white, I think I'll need to change the speedo needles to white as I don't think the red/white/blue combo will look right . Since I'm so undecided, I figured I'd go with the blue, just so I could get it back together! I thought about doing everything white, but I think the blue looks better with the frost interior. I definitely like the blue against the silver paint! I ended up getting both white and blue LED's for my puddle light mod. I'm probably going to end up going blue, but I got the white just in case!

I'm probably going to end up staying with the blue. I won't get a chance to mess with it until next week, or maybe even next weekend, depending on my wife's schedule. I'm going to wire them into my ignition light (that lights the ring around the ignition)...that way they will come on when I unlock the doors, and they will fade back off...or go instant off when I start the car. KC tied his into his door lights, but my door lights don't turn on when I unlock the car, so that won't work for me. Only my dome lights and ignition light light when I unlock the door, so I figured the ignition bulb would be the easiest to tie into. I just have to hit up the local AutoZone and pick up some wire.

yea, I'm just going to run mine to the door lights like KC did, since mine work the same way as his. Your definitely the man with this LED stuff, coming along awesome. Might have to send you the 07 Cluster i'm picking up and have you do it red/white to match the rest of my dash LED conversion

yea, I'm just going to run mine to the door lights like KC did, since mine work the same way as his. Your definitely the man with this LED stuff, coming along awesome. Might have to send you the 07 Cluster i'm picking up and have you do it red/white to match the rest of my dash LED conversion

So you're saying that your door lights come on when you unlock the car? I sat in my car and checked...when I unlock my car, only my dome lights and ignition light come on...my door lights don't come on unless I open the door. That won't help me with the puddle lights, so I'll have to use the ignition light.

Eric told me that his map light can be switched off by moving his slider switch (on the sunroof control panel) to off...when I switch mine off, it has no effect on my map light. I'm glad I didn't go with anything brighter on my map light! Nissan must have changed a few things between the model years.

If you need any LED's swapped, just hit me up!

Originally Posted by wolf040882

Don, awesome write up! you the man! I think i might take apart my center console to get at the heated switches. hopefully our cars are similar.

The center console come apart MUCH easier than I figured it would. Just the 4 screws. Just be VERY careful lifting it out so you don't scratch anything.

Wow, so I just tried to do this to my 04 max. totally different. Well you do everything as you did in 07-08 but there is a ton of clips and more screws on 04 connected around radio/glove box area towards passenger foot area. i almost had it out but i must have been missing something towards front of car. I didnt want to go any further and break something or not remember where shit goes. took me for ever to put everything back and I lost a dammm screw underneath shifter. not worth it for me to get at those

Wow, so I just tried to do this to my 04 max. totally different. Well you do everything as you did in 07-08 but there is a ton of clips and more screws on 04 connected around radio/glove box area towards passenger foot area. i almost had it out but i must have been missing something towards front of car. I didnt want to go any further and break something or not remember where shit goes. took me for ever to put everything back and I lost a dammm screw underneath shifter. not worth it for me to get at those

Man, I'm sorry to hear that. It's pretty amazing how much they changed between the two model years.